The Magpies have not made a signing yet but positive signs are expected in July
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe(Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe will be eager to prevent the same scenario he has faced in both 2023 and 2024.
It was pitchside on a July afternoon on the banks of the Tyne at Gateshead International Stadium two years ago, after a 3-2 win over the non-league side, that he was quizzed on transfers. It turned out OK that summer with the arrival of Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento.
Back then, Howe was still trying to make ends meet and offloading players like Jeff Hendrick and Ryan Fraser. The path has never been clear and wasn't much clearer a year later as he faced the travelling Press pack in a summer training camp in Germany at Adidas HQ.
Howe said at Gateshead in 2023: "Yeah I think at different times there has been frustrations. There have been difficult days, because obviously you want the end result, you want the best squad you can get."
Then in Germany last summer Howe, who had just had sporting director Paul Mitchell placed above him, said: "It’s not about having a final say (on transfers). I’m not going to say anything different to what I said before: collaboration.
"We've had really positive talks and we’re trying to bring the right players for the football club. But it’s never about one person’s decision and neither should it be.
"It’s about a group of people coming together and making the right decisions, all for the benefit of the football club.
"I have just been working every hour to make sure we are ready for next season. We are having discussions every day, several times a day to try to move the squad forward and make sure we are ready for what is a very tough Premier League season.
"I’m at the end point of the recruitment work as I’m busy coaching the team. Of course toward the end of collating information, that’s when I have my input but there is work going into transfers throughout the year.
"But I can't give you false news, we are working towards that and everyone wants the same end point, let's see what happens."
Even before this window even opened, Howe said he needed "speed" to get deals done but that was back in May. He's watched on as Newcastle were outbid for Joao Pedro by Chelsea, couldn't strike a deal for Anthony Elanga while James Trafford wants to sign for United but a fee can't be agreed with Burnley.
Mitchell's exit will spark news of a new sporting director while an incoming CEO to replace Darren Eales is also on the cards. It means that two new incoming appointments must hit the ground running.
Mitchell complained about starting his new role mid-window last year so does that mean another period of adjustment will be required by his replacement? Or can Newcastle, with the Champions League fast approaching, afford another pass?
Given Howe stated clearly that Miguel Almiron, Lloyd Kelly and Elliot Anderson were never replaced, you'd think that it must be full steam ahead. Newcastle kick off pre-season training with another camp soon before the first friendly on July 19 against Celtic.
That could be the first time Howe faces the media and takes questions from the floor so to speak. Howe wanted deals done in time for pre-season on July 7, so to say he will want new faces by Celtic is an understatement.
That could be deemed an unofficial deadline in the eyes of some observers and even Howe himself but the last time anybody spoke on the record at Newcastle was on May 26.
Howe may well do club media before then, but he hopes two and a half weeks before Celtic will be sufficient to complete at least one deal.
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